Do you know the new beauty rules?

British women waste £964million on beauty products they then never use, according to a study by Vaseline.

So instead of taking a gamble on a full size impulse purchase, register
first with subscription beauty box service Latest In Beauty
(latestinbeauty.com) to receive a bargain selection of hair, skin and
make-up samples delivered to your doorstep.

For £1.50 you can build a monthly customised box containing sample
sachets from big names such as Estée Lauder, Clarins and Max Factor,
alongside smaller niche brands. Their themed boxes, from £6.95, are good
value and contain a selection of six travel-sized products worth the
equivalent of £20.

DON’T BE A PRODUCT JUNKIE

Despite what sales assistants may tell you there are some products you can afford to live without.

There’s no evidence to support using different moisturisers for the eyes, neck or chest

Beauty expert and cosmeticscop.com founder Paula Begoun

“There’s no evidence to support using different moisturisers for the
eyes, neck or chest,” says beauty expert and cosmeticscop.com founder
Paula Begoun.

“Skin has the same needs wherever it is on the face or body which means
one well formulated moisturiser can do the job of four separates,” she
promises.

“Likewise, as long as you apply sunscreen during the day you can use exactly the same skincare at night too.”

LOVE YOUR HANDS

If you really want to keep people guessing your age then treat your hands as you would your face.

After years of neglect, brown spots can tell tales on your age but Dr
Madan suggests laser treatments such as Vbeam, from £150 (0845 521
0698), that can help undo the damage.

TAKE A BREAK FROM STRAIGHTENERS

Although our hair is strong, it’s not
tough enough to withstand a daily scalding from straighteners or tongs,
says consultant trichologist Iain Sallis. “Once or twice a week is OK
but daily styling will cause frizz, split-ends and even premature
thinning from breakage,” he warns.

Take a day off from the use of straighteners and instead turn to a
pre-shampoo conditioning treatment such as Philip Kingsley Elasticizer,
£14.40 (philipkingsley. co.uk) which will smooth and strengthen the hair
cuticle so that it lies and looks better in its natural state.

Buns, topknots and ponytails are a great way to dress up your style
without straighteners. The Goody Spin Pin, £5.50 (Boots) does the job of
20 kirby grips without snagging or tangling.

ACE YOUR BASE

Perfect skin never goes out of fashion but foundation tidelines are the
least of the facial faux pas. “If you don’t want your complexion to look
flat or caked on then it’s just as important to choose a formula that
flatters your skin type as it is to find the right shade,” says
celebrity make-up artist Justine Jenkins. For a formula that suits all skin types and seasons, look no further than Givenchy’s new Eclat Matissime Fluid Foundation, £32.50 (01932 233 824).

It has oil-regulating zinc spheres that zone in on shine but dodge dry patches. The result is a perfectly matte complexion that retains its natural radiance.

ESCAPE YOUR PERFUME RUT

With hundreds of launches every year, shopping for a new fragrance can be overwhelming. You could spritz scents at random in the hope you’ll stumble on the perfect one or cheat with the new trend for fragrance finder “apps” instead.

Not just for geeks, iPerfumer for the iPhone is a free interactive
download which sniffs out a shortlist of fragrance suggestions based on
your perfume history or favourite notes.

As well as narrowing down a signature scent for you from its database of
4,000 fragrances, you can also use it find the perfect gift for a
friend or partner too.

FORGET BOTOX, TRY BROW-TOX “Well-groomed brows lift and enlarge the eye
area, giving a more open and youthful appearance like Botox without
freezing your expression,” says Pally Pagliuca, creator of the Back To
Wow brow treatment, £85 (benitobrowbar.com).

“Maximising your natural arch is a must so have your brows professionally threaded first then maintain the shape at home,” she advises. As well as tinting, weaker eyebrow tones can be strengthened with a brow pencil such as Smashbox Brow Tech To Go, £22.50 (debenhams.co.uk).

“Avoid extreme trends such as bushy or pencil thin brows as they rarely flatter,” says Pally.

Your thighs might thank you for your spring health kick but anti-ageing experts are reporting an increase in women

seeking treatment for “runner’s face”.

“Not only does regular pavement pounding strain the ligaments which support your cheeks but its associated weight loss and UV exposure can cause wrinkles, pigmentation and loss of elasticity,” says dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe.

However, that’s no excuse to become a couch potato. “If you must run, then do so on softer terrain and wear broad spectrum sunscreen, even in winter,” he says.

Statement nails are a growing fashion accessory
and last year women spent £132million on nail polish alone. Yet there’s
more to manicures than getting your hands on this season’s “it” shade,
says nail pro Marian Newman.

“A clear base coat might be more hassle but nails absorb stains from coloured polish just like clothes do,” she warns.

“Likewise, avoid changing the colour more than once a week as this can
dehydrate the nail plate. Reapply a glossy top coat every other day
instead and massage them regularly with oil to keep them strong.”

There’s been much debate about the worth of dietary supplements which claim to boost beauty from the inside. If you’re looking for an anti-wrinkle pill that seems proven to work then try Dove Spa’s Strength Within, from £35 (dovespa.co.uk).

It took five years to perfect this cocktail of nutritional ingredients (vitamins C and E, Lycopene and omega 3

fatty acids), said to activate the genes responsible for skin tone and lessen the depth of wrinkles.

Swallowed three times daily, some women in clinical studies saw up to a 30 per cent improvement in their crows’ feet after 14 weeks.